After assembling some of baseball's finest young talent and making a surprising return to the playoffs for the first time since 2013, Atlanta went down quietly in the postseason. The Baby Braves were shut out twice in Los Angeles before the high-powered Dodgers finished off the best-of-5 series with a 6-2 victory in Game 4 on Monday.

Braves manager Brian Snitker said he'd like to return in 2019 to a team that features an abundance of young talent. Said Freddie Freeman of Snitker: "I'd love to have him back." Brett Davis/USA TODAY Sports

The brief playoff appearance exposed a team that still has some glaring weaknesses . The pitching lacks a dominant starter, the lineup needs more power, and the bench wasn't much help at all.

When Snitker looked over at the Dodgers, a star-filled team that earned its third straight trip to the NL Championship Series, he saw what the Braves must strive to become.

"We're going to get there," Snitker said, "but we're not there yet."

The Braves, however, must decide if their manager will be part of the journey.

Snitker is not yet under contract for 2019, though there's nothing to indicate he won't return for his third full year at the helm -- especially after a season that makes him one of the leading candidates for NL manager of the year.

The decision rests with general manager Alex Anthopoulos, who held meetings Tuesday with Snitker and the coaching staff but wasn't available to the media.

"Until something gets done ... I understand that you're never guaranteed tomorrow," said Snitker, who turns 63 next week. "I don't know. I know I'd like to [return]. I enjoyed it. I love that group in there. I like being around `em. That group in there is awesome. I've got a few more years in me."

The manager expects a quick decision from Anthopoulos.

"He's not going to string anything out," Snitker said. "I think by the end of the week I will know something."

"I'd love to have him back," the slugging first baseman said. "He did a remarkable job. It's really hard to handle 25 to 35 personalities, and he's one of the best at it."

After a massive rebuilding job and three straight 90-loss seasons, the Braves suddenly returned to prominence in large part because of a bountiful farm system led by Ronald Acuna Jr., Ozzie Albies and a seemingly endless supply of dynamic young pitchers.

The 20-year-old Acuna quickly stamped himself as a franchise player after coming up from the minors early in the season, flourishing in the leadoff spot while hitting .293 with 26 homers, 64 RBIs and 16 stolen bases.

Albies, only 21, tailed off badly in the second half but still batted .261 with 24 homers and 72 RBIs in his first full season in the big leagues.

The lineup also included 23-year-old Johan Camargo, who had 19 homers and 76 RBIs, and 24-year-old Dansby Swanson, who missed the playoffs because of a late-season injury.

Among the 20-something pitchers, Mike Foltynewicz went 13-10 with a 2.85 ERA and made the All-Star Game for the first time. Sean Newcomb was a 12-game winner. Touki Toussaint, Max Fried and Mike Soroka showed plenty of potential in their limited opportunities. Top prospects Kolby Allard and Kyle Wright could be close to breaking through, as well.

"It wasn't one guy one night and the same guy the next night," Foltynewicz said. "It was really a team thing the whole year. It was really fun to watch."

Markakis, who turns 35 next month, is set to become a free agent and may have played his last game for the Braves.

"We're not a finished product by any stretch," Snitker said.

Despite losing its ninth straight postseason series -- a streak that dates to 2001 and is eclipsed only by the Chicago Cubs dropping 10 in a row -- just making the playoffs was a big accomplishment for such a youthful team. When Freeman struck out for the final out of the year, the crowd at SunTrust Park gave the Braves a standing ovation.

"It was an incredible experience," Acuna said. "I definitely had a lot of fun."